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Commitments And Contingencies
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]  
Commitments And Contingencies (22) Commitments and Contingencies:

Although from time to time we make short-term purchasing commitments to vendors with respect to capital expenditures, we generally do not enter into firm, written contracts for such activities.

In 2015, Frontier accepted the FCC’s CAF Phase II offer in 29 states, which provides $332 million in annual support through and in return, the Company is committed to make broadband available to approximately 774,000 locations within its footprint. This amount included approximately 41,000 locations and $19 million in annual support related to the four states of the Northwest Operations, which were disposed on May 1, 2020.

On January 30, 2020, the FCC adopted an order establishing the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) program. The FCC held the RDOF Phase I auction from October 29, 2020 through November 25, 2020 and announced the results on December 7, 2020. Frontier was awarded approximately $371 million over ten years to build gigabit capable broadband over a fiber-to-the-premises network to approximately 127,000 locations across eight states (California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia). Frontier submitted its Long Form application to the FCC on January 29, 2021 and, assuming the long-form application is granted by the FCC, anticipates that it will begin receiving funding on January 1, 2022, in which case, Frontier will be required to complete the buildout to these locations by December 31, 2027, with interim target milestones over this period. After the FCC updates its maps with more granular broadband availability information, the FCC plans to hold a second auction (RDOF Phase II) for any remaining locations with the remaining funding, up to approximately $11.2 billion.

Recognizing that RDOF support will not be made available before the end of the sixth year of CAF Phase II support (i.e., December 31, 2020), the FCC’s RDOF order explains that CAF II recipients may elect to receive a seventh year of CAF Phase II support through December 31, 2021, whether or not they participate, or are successful in, an RDOF auction. Frontier timely elected to receive a seventh year of model-based support in 25 states. As such, Frontier will continue to receive annual CAF Phase II support in the remaining 25 states until December 31, 2021. Implementation of the RDOF could result in a material change in the level of funding that Frontier receives from the FCC under CAF II as early as 2022.

On April 20, 2017, the FCC issued an Order that significantly altered how Commercial Data Services are regulated. Specifically, the Order adopted a test to determine, on a county-by-county basis, whether price cap ILECs, like Frontier’s DS1 and DS3 services, will continue to be regulated. The test resulted in deregulation in a substantial number of our markets and is allowing Frontier to offer its DS1 and DS3 services in a manner that better responds to the competitive marketplace and allows for commercial negotiation. The areas that remain regulated may be subject to price fluctuations depending upon the price cap formula that year. Multiple parties appealed the order in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals issued a ruling August 28, 2018, which upheld the vast majority of the FCC’s decision easing regulation of business data services of internet service providers and vacated and remanded one part of the order back to the FCC. On October 10, 2018, the FCC filed a Motion to

Stay the Court’s Decision. On July 12, 2019, the FCC released an order addressing the matters remanded by the Court of Appeals. Frontier cannot predict the extent to which these regulatory changes could affect revenues at this time.

On April 30, 2018, an amended consolidated class action complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut on behalf of certain purported stockholders against Frontier, certain of its current and former directors and officers and the underwriters of certain Frontier securities offerings. The complaint was brought on behalf of all persons who (1) acquired Frontier common stock between February 6, 2015 and February 28, 2018, inclusive, and/or (2) acquired Frontier common stock or Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock either in or traceable to Frontier’s offerings of common and preferred stock conducted on or about June 2, 2015 and June 8, 2015. The complaint asserted, among other things, violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), in connection with certain disclosures relating to the CTF Acquisition. The complaint sought, among other things, damages and equitable and injunctive relief. On March 8, 2019, the District Court granted in its entirety Frontier’s motion to dismiss the complaint.  The District Court dismissed with prejudice a number of claims and with respect to certain other claims that were not dismissed with prejudice, Plaintiffs were permitted to seek the court’s permission to refile. On May 10, 2019, Plaintiffs filed a motion for leave to amend along with a proposed amended complaint that is narrower in scope than the dismissed complaint. On March 24, 2020, the court denied plaintiffs’ motion for leave to amend, finding that they had not pled a viable claim. Plaintiffs appealed and the case was stayed by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. We continue to dispute the allegations and intend to vigorously defend against such claims. In addition, shareholders have filed derivative complaints on behalf of the Company in Connecticut, California, and Delaware courts. The derivative complaints are based, generally, on the same facts asserted in the consolidated class action complaint and allege against current and former officers and directors of the Company (i) breach of fiduciary duty claims for disseminating false and misleading information to shareholders, failure to manage internal controls, and failure to oversee and manage the company; (ii) unjust enrichment and waste of corporate assets claims; and (iii) violations of Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act for the false and misleading statements. We also dispute the allegations in the derivative complaints described above and intend to vigorously defend against such claims. Given that all of these matters are in the early stages of litigation, we are unable to estimate a reasonably possible range of loss, if any, that may result.

In addition, we are party to various legal proceedings (including individual actions, class and putative class actions, and governmental investigations) arising in the normal course of our business covering a wide range of matters and types of claims including, but not limited to, general contract disputes, billing disputes, rights of access, taxes and surcharges, consumer protection, advertising, sales and the provision of services, trademark and patent infringement, employment, regulatory, tort, claims of competitors and disputes with other carriers. Litigation is subject to uncertainty and the outcome of individual matters is not predictable. However, we believe that the ultimate resolution of all such matters, after considering insurance coverage or other indemnities to which we are entitled, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In October 2013, the California Attorney General’s Office notified certain Verizon companies, including one of the subsidiaries that we acquired in the CTF Acquisition, of potential violations of California state hazardous waste statutes primarily arising from the disposal of electronic components, batteries and aerosol cans at certain California facilities. We are cooperating with this investigation. We have accrued an amount for potential penalties that we deem to be probable and reasonably estimated, and we do not expect that any potential penalties, if ultimately incurred, will be material in comparison to the established accrual.

We accrue an expense for pending litigation when we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable, and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Legal defense costs are expensed as incurred. None of our existing accruals for pending matters, after considering insurance coverage, is material. We monitor our pending litigation for the purpose of adjusting our accruals and revising our disclosures accordingly, when required. Litigation is, however, subject to uncertainty, and the outcome of any particular matter is not predictable. We will vigorously defend our interests in pending litigation, and as of this date, we believe that the ultimate resolution of all such matters, after considering insurance coverage or other indemnities to which we are entitled, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or our cash flows.

As part of the sale of the Northwest Operations, Frontier indemnified the purchaser for customary post-closing matters, including, among other things, breaches of certain covenants, agreements and warranties, and other obligations included in the purchase agreement. While Frontier intends to comply with its obligations under the purchase agreement, we could be obligated to make payments pursuant to these provisions in the future.

We conduct certain of our operations in leased premises and also lease certain equipment and other assets pursuant to operating leases. The lease arrangements have terms ranging from 1 to 99 years and several contain rent escalation clauses providing for increases in monthly rent at specific intervals. When rent escalation clauses exist, we record annual rental expense based on the total expected rent payments on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Certain leases also have renewal options. Renewal options that are reasonably assured are included in determining the lease term.

Effect of Automatic Stay

Subject to certain exceptions under the Bankruptcy Code, the filing of the Company Parties’ Chapter 11 Cases automatically stayed the continuation of most legal proceedings or the filing of other actions against or on behalf of the Company Parties or their property to recover on, collect or secure a claim arising prior to the Petition Date or to exercise control over property of the Company Parties’ bankruptcy estates, unless and until the Bankruptcy Court modifies or lifts the automatic stay as to any such claim. Notwithstanding the general application of the automatic stay described above, governmental authorities may determine to continue actions brought under their police and regulatory powers.

We are party to contracts with several unrelated long-distance carriers. The contracts provide fees based on traffic they carry for us subject to minimum monthly fees.

At December 31, 2020, the estimated future payments for obligations under our noncancelable long-distance contracts and joint pole and communications service agreements are as follows:

($ in millions)

Amount

    

Year ending December 31:

2021

$

85 

2022

22 

2023

19 

2024

4 

2025

2 

Thereafter

4 

Total

$

136 

At December 31, 2020, we have outstanding performance letters of credit as follows:

($ in millions)

Amount

    

CNA Financial Corporation (CNA)

$

49 

AIG Insurance

28 

Zurich (1)

62 

Total

$

139 

(1) Zurich letters of credit exclude approximately $57 million of cash held in trust in lieu of issuing letters of credit.

CNA serves as our insurance carrier with respect to casualty claims (auto liability, general liability and workers’ compensation) with dates of loss prior to June 1, 2017 (except for those claims which arise out of the operations acquired from CTF that have dates of loss prior to April 1, 2016). As our insurance carrier, they administer the casualty claims and make claim payments on our behalf. We reimburse CNA for such services upon presentation of their invoice. To serve as our carrier and make payments on our behalf, CNA requires that we establish a

letter of credit in their favor. CNA could potentially draw against this letter of credit if we failed to reimburse CNA in accordance with the terms of our agreement. The amount of the letter of credit is reviewed annually and adjusted based on claims history.

Zurich serves as our insurance carrier with respect to casualty claims (auto liability, general liability and workers’ compensation) with dates of loss from June 1, 2017 and going forward. As our insurance carrier, they administer the casualty claims and make claim payments on our behalf. We reimburse Zurich for such services upon presentation of their invoice. To serve as our carrier and make payments on our behalf, Zurich requires that we establish letters of credit in their favor. Zurich could potentially draw against these letters of credit if we failed to reimburse Zurich in accordance with the terms of our agreement. The amount of the letters of credit is reviewed annually and adjusted based on claims history.

AIG Insurance serves as our insurance carrier with respect to casualty claims (auto liability, general liability and workers’ compensation) that were acquired from CTF, as well as new claims which arise out of the operations acquired from CTF that have dates of loss prior to April 1, 2016. Sedgwick, a third-party claims administrator, administers the casualty claims and makes claim payments on our behalf. We reimburse Sedgwick for such services upon presentation of their invoice. However, to serve as our insurance carrier, AIG Insurance requires that we establish a letter of credit in their favor. AIG Insurance could potentially draw against this letter of credit if we failed to meet the insurance-related and claims-related obligations we assumed in accordance with the terms of our agreement. The amount of the letter of credit is reviewed annually and adjusted based on claims history.